Glare-modifying means for vehicle head lamps



July 30, 1929. BOWMAN 1,722,366

@LARHMODIFYING MEANS FOR VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS Filed Feb. 14, 1927 v INVEN TOR. 55. 12% 5am QQZ @0M/744/W A TTORNEY Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITE STATES LEE M. BOWMAN, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

GLABE-MODIFYING MEANS FOR VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS.

Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. 168,056.

My invention relates to means for modifying the glare of vehicle head lamps.

The objects of my invention are: first, to provide means of this class which may be readily mounted in head lamps of many sizes without change except as to its supporting means, which means may be changed easily and quickly; second, to provide a means of this class comprising a series of horizontally disposed, spaced apart light directing and defleeting vanes, which vanes are yieldably supported relative to each other so that the vanes can not be bent or injured readily; third, to provide a means of this class comprising a series of horizontally disposed parallel light directing and deflecting vanes mounted in a rigid frame, so that the means may be readily handled, and whereby rigid means is provided for supporting the device in avehicle head lamp; fourth, to provide a means of this class V which is yieldably mounted at the light emitting end of a head lamp andstill so mounted that its axial, angular and longitudinal position relative to the head lamp is fixed; fifth, to provide a yieldable and resilient meansfor supporting a light modifying element within a head lamp which positions the element axially and firmly holds the same against the lens of the head lamp; sixth, to provide supporting means for an element of this class which may be readily and yieldably clamped between the reflector and lens of the head lamp and which will at the same time securely hold the light modifying element against the inner side of the lens of the head lamp; seventh, to provide, as a whole, a novelly constructed means for supporting a light modifying element in a head lamp; eighth, to provide, as a whole, a novelly constructed light means ofthis class which is particularly simple and economical of construction, durable, efficient and which will not readily deterior- 7 -modifying element; and, ninth, to provide 7 my glare or light modifying means mounted in connection therewith, the section being m entary sectional view thereof taken through 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the vanes of the glare modifying element; and, Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through 5-5 of Fig. 1, showmg a portion of the rigid frame for sup porting the vanes and the means of connection of the supporting members therewith.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings. 7

My glare modifying means, in its preferred form of construction as shown in the drawings, consists essentially of a pair of rigid plates 1, a pair of tie members 2, a series of light directing and deflecting vanes'3, a pair of U-shaped supporting members 4, and rubber tubing for covering the U-shaped supporting members.

The plates 1 are secured together and in spaced relation to each other by the tie members 2 which are spaced from each other and are positioned at right angles to the plates 1. The tie members 2 may be secured to the plates 1 by extending through holes in said plates and then riveting, swaging, or soldering the ends of the members 2 to the plates,

.as shown in Fig. 5 forming a rigid frame with the platen 1. The tie members 2 are in the form of tubes for the purpose to be described hereafter. The light directing and deflecting vanes 3 are preferably made of very thin sheet metal which are preferably polished on their under sides and dull at their upper sides. Said vanes are spaced from each otherby means of lugs 3 which are formed integrally with the vanes by punching portions thereof outwardly, as shown best in Fig. 4 which is a View of the under side of one of the vanes. The lugs 3 of adjacent vanes are preferably staggered relative to and a considerable distance laterally from the lugs of the adjacently' positioned vanes so as to provide a vertically yieldable structure which prevents the same from being readily bent or injured when engaging an obstruction. Said vanes are positioned between the plates 1 and are held in position therebetween by the tubes 2, which tubes extend through holes 3 in said vanes. When assembled, the vanes are paraltubes, as shown.

lel to each other and assume a substantially circular outline and are positioned as a unit at the open end of the reflector 6 of the head lamp and directly behind the lens 7 thereof.

The supporting members 4 are substantial ly U-shaped and made of resilient wire. The ends of the leg portions of the U-shaped supporting members are inserted into the outer ends of the tubes 2, as shown in Fig. 5. The 7 portions of the legs, not inserted into the tubes 2, are bent outwardly to provide a stop for limiting the insertion of the legs into said The cross or connecting portions of the supporting members are rounded to assume the shape of the head lamp. The portions of the U-shaped supporting 'members extending beyond the glare modifying element, are covered by rubber tubing 5. Each U-shaped supporting member 4, before the legs thereof are inserted into the tubes 2, assumes a laterally expanded shape with the legs thereof spread apart 'a considerable distance; but when the legs are forced together and inserted into the ends of the tubes, the member 4 assumes the shape shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and is frictionally retained in and by the tubes.

The outer curved connecting portions of the Ushaped supporting members 4 are positioned between the outer edge or flange of the reflector 6 and the lens 7 and within and against the yieldable bead 8 conventionally "with the source of light.

modifying element is secured in position at element vertically, laterally and angularly relative to the reflector, and in alignment When the glare the light emitting portion of the head lamp, the supporting members 4 are distorted outwardly relative to the modifying element, as shown in Fig. 1, thus resiliently retaining the glare modifying element against the inner face of the lens and frictionally holding the same in the positions above mentioned.

In order to hold the device temporarily in position in the front end of the head lamp before the lens is secured in position, I have provided a small, thin, sheet metal clip 9 l which is preferably rigidly secured at one end to and intermediate the ends of the cross por tion 4 of the lower U-shaped wire supporting member 4, there being preferably a separation of the rubber tubing 5 at the clip securing portion of the supporting member, as shown. When desiring to secure the devlce 1n bent to assume the shape of the bead and its retaining groove.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a means of the class described, the combination with a head-lamp enclosure, and

a light source disposed therein, of a light M modifying element positioned within the enclosure at the light emitting end thereof, and U-shaped supporting members removably positioned with their legs in said modifying-element, the connecting portions of-said l lshaped supporting members engaglng sa1d enclosure for positioning said modifyingelement' therein in alignment with sa1d light source, the portions'of said U-shaped supporting members extending beyond saidmodifying element being covered with rubber tubing to provide yieldable and friction means for engaging said enclosure.

2. In a means of the class described, a series of horizontally disposed and spaced apart vanes, a pair oftubes extending transversely through sa1d vanes and securlng the same relative to each other, and supporting members loosely and removably mounted in the ends of said tubes, the outer ends of said supporting members being adapted tosupport said vanes at the light emitting end of a head lamp.

3. In a means ofthe class described, a series of horizontally disposed and spaced apart vanes, a pair of tubes extending transversely 1? I through said vanes and securing thesame relative to each other, and a pair of resllient U-shaped wire supporting members, each being loosely positioned with their legs in the coincident ends of said tubes, one leg at each end of the tube, the cross portions of said U-shaped members being adapted to engage the front portions of the reflector of said head lamp for positioning said vanes at the front end of the reflector.

4. In a means of the class described, a

series of horizontally disposed andspaced apart vanes, a pair of tubes extending transversely through said vanes and securing the same relative to each other and a pair of Iresilient U-shaped wire supporting members,

each being loosely positioned with their legs in the coincident ends of said tubes, one at each end of the tube, the cross portions of the U-shaped supporting members being pro- Vided with yieldable means for yieldably engaging the forward portion of a head lamp for supporting said vanes therein.

5. In a means of the class described, the combination with a head-lamp enclosure, and

a light source disposed therein, of a light modifying element positioned within the enclosure, and a U-shaped wire supporting member extended with its legs into said modifying element, said legs being bent to one side intermediate their ends for limiting the insertion of said legs into said element, said supporting member positioning said element in front of said light source.

6. In a means of the class described, the combination with a head-lamp enclosure having an annular channel at its light emitting end, a bead in said channel, a lens for said end of the enclosure, and a light source disposed in said enclosure, of a light modifying element positioned within the enclosure at the inner side of said lens, substantially U-shaped supporting members extending from said modifying member and adapted to engage said enclosure for positioning said modifying element, and a positioning and retaining clip secured to one of said supporting members adapted to be positioned in said channel and retained by said bead.

7 In a means of the class described, the combination with a head-lamp enclosure and a light source disposed therein, of a light modifying element positioned therein, a sup porting member connected to said modifying element and extending therefrom and engaging said enclosure, and a positioning and retaining clip mounted on said supporting member and adapted to loosely retain said modifying element in position in front of said light source.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 1st day of February, 1927.

LEE M. BOWMAN. 

